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(Adapted from pp G2-3 of the Tioxide Draft Environmental Statement, 1991)
Tribal area, extent and surrounding tribes
The area in which the Whyalla Conservation Park is situated was traditionally Pangkala land (Tindale, 1974). Their territory extended from Franklin Harbour in the south, north-west to the Gawler Ranges, north-east to Lake Torrens and east to Edeowie. The Pangkala's northern neighbours were the Kokatha.
Tindale (1974) believes that pressure from the Kokatha, possibly for food resources, resulted in modifications to the Pangkala's northern boundary, which gradually moved southwards. This movement southward was accelerated by drought, closer European settlements and the development of the Woomera Restricted area. During this time the numbers of Pangkala people declined.
A number of Pangkala families lived at the Poonindie mission which was set up near Port Lincoln in 1850. Their numbers gradually declined however and, when the mission was disbanded in 1896, the remaining Pangkala were transferred to an Aboriginal settlement established at Point Pearce, on Yorke Peninsula.
A small number of Pangkala continued to live in the Gawler Ranges where they worked on stations. They were joined by groups of Kokatha and the two groups have since become closely linked through marriage. Other Pangkala lived at the ration depot established at Iron Knob as well as at the tiny settlement of Hummock Hill (later to become Whyalla) and on the outskirts of Port Augusta.
Tribal ceremonies and traditional lifestyles were gradually abandoned as the land was no longer available to them and the last initiations among Pangkala men took place in 1938-39 (Potter & Jacobs, 1981).
Pangkala people are now few in number with most of the remaining individuals of Pangkala descent living in Whyalla. The Kokatha population is more numerous.
For the Pangkala, the most important sites are those associated with the travel myths of the Dreamtime figures, ie. the Moon, the Seven Sisters and the Rainbow Serpent (Potter & Jacobs, 1981). Often the sites are associated with resource-rich areas. For instance, a site may be the location of a water-hole, providing a reliable water source, or alternatively, it may be a source of ochre, which was widely used for decoration and in ceremonies.
Other important sites are associated with unusual natural features: 'in this basically flat country, hills stand out very prominently; most hills and major topographical features ... have significance ....' (Potter & Jacobs, 1981).
While the presence of the Kokatha in the Whyalla/Port Augusta region is relatively recent, they, and the Adnjamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges, also have traditional associations with the Whyalla area through their mythic song cycles.
One of the natural features which is believed to be of significance is Wild Dog Hill. It takes its name from a story told by the Adnjamathanha people.
For further details about the Adnjamathanha Dreaming story and other knowledge of traditional life, refer to the accompanying document, THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE WHYALLA CONSERVATION PARK.
Before the purchase and dedication of the area, the land was Part Section 12 of Pastoral Lease 1337, held by North-West Holdings Ltd., under the management of Mr G W Nicolson. The present 1 011 hectares of the Park were separated from a larger paddock of the property.
The area had been stocked with sheep at the rate of 15.44/square kilometre continuously over the last 30 years, since the construction of the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline in 1943. Hence the original paddock usually supported 160 - 200 sheep. A few cattle (Bos taurus) grazed the paddock early during this period. Before 1943 the area had only received intermittent grazing, because of the lack of water. The present dams and drains were introduced with this stocking regime about 1930. The present western fence was erected in about 1900, and the eastern and southern fences in 1939 and 1940.
Western myall trees were cut for fence posts and dead wood removed to the Whyalla wood yard throughout the recorded period of use. The only recorded fire occurred in the Park in 1975 (see Fire section). A severe hailstorm in 1948 stripped all trees and shrubs in the western end of the Park of leaves, but the plants made a rapid recovery because of the associated heavy rains (G W Nicolson pers. comm. - from Lewis, 1974 p 23).
The remains of a track which crosses the Park diagonally from the Lincoln Highway opposite the Point Lowly turn-off to the power line is what remains of the survey line established early this century. This line was surveyed as the possible route of a railway line from Iron Knob to the proposed site for a town/port at Fitzgerald Bay (D Nicolson, 1995 pers. comm.).
Dumping of rubbish was common throughout the Park, particularly at the more readily accessible eastern and western ends.
Sheep grazing in the Park sector of the paddock ceased with its acquisition in 1971 (Lewis, 1974 pp 22-24).
The circumstances which brought about initial moves to have Whyalla Conservation Park reserved are uncertain, although it appears that the reservation of this particular area may have been as much the result of coincidence and chance as good planning. It is known that the Northern Naturalists' Society and others had been seeking, for some time, to have an area of Western myall woodland in the Whyalla region reserved. It was also generally recognised by the Whyalla community that there was a need for a park in the area to satisfy the recreational demands of the city.
Proposed acquisition by the Department of Lands was not directed by any current reserve-acquisition policy, but was part of the provision for "open space" in the proposed development of the Whyalla region. The Development Plan states that the area was "intended for conservation of Myall, Saltbush and Bluebush" (South Australian State Planning Authority, 1970 p 30.) However, the previous lessees of the land have indicated that they understood the area was intended to serve a recreational purpose, a function much needed in view of the lack of such facilities in the region. This opinion may have been widespread amongst the Whyalla community at the time of acquisition (J Boully pers. comm. - from Lewis, 1974 p 22). Such a function was not recognised by the National Parks Commission, or after 1972, by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The level and type of public use which was occurring in the area was clearly incompatible with the effective use of the block for sheep grazing. The lessee, Mr G W Nicolson, saw a solution in offering the block (then part Section 12, Hundred of Cultana) to the then National Parks Commission in 1969 for acquisition for conservation purposes.
The purchase price of $10,000 for the 1000 ha block was agreed upon. This price included all existing fencing as well as the cost of fencing the newly created northern boundary.
A boundary survey was completed, the block numbered as Section 14, Hundred of Cultana, easements defined and reserved for the Electricity Trust power lines which bisect the area and a number of other formalities and difficulties resolved. Section 14 of the Hundred of Cultana was dedicated as a National Park on the 4th November 1971 (South Australian Government Gazette, 1971 p 1817), under the National Parks Act, 1966.
Following the passage of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972, the reserve was reclassified as a conservation park, and renamed Whyalla Conservation Park during that year (Lewis, 1974 pp 21-22).
In the absence of specific management goals, a policy of preservation of the environment, in accordance with the NPWS Act, was initially adopted by the Rangers responsible for management of the Park.
Management was primarily directed towards exclusion of vehicular traffic and grazing stock from the Park, and eradication of feral animals. Specifically this involved, after the initial removal of the grazing sheep, checking and continual repair of all boundaries of the Park, particularly the three older fences (south, east and west), locking of all gates, removal of roadside advertising hoardings, and of stray cattle entering from the adjacent dairy, eradication of rabbit warrens and feral goats, and, with the cooperation of nearby pastoralists, of stray domestic dogs (Lewis, 1974 pp 24-25).
Through the 1970s and 1980s the vandalism and associated problems that the previous lessee had experienced prior to the dedication of the Park continued unabated. Ranger staff based at Pt Augusta were unable to significantly change the behaviour of those causing these problems despite their continued efforts.
One attempt to control visitor movements in the area was undertaken as part of a Commonwealth Government Community Employment Program in 1985. As part of this program a car-park was defined and a walking trail to the top of Wild Dog Hill constructed. This whole development came under substantial attack by vandals both through the removal of logs from the fencing and damage to the walking trail.
The Friends of Whyalla Conservation Park group was formed in June 1987 at a public meeting. The group was formed by concerned members of the Whyalla community in response to an invitation offered by the Western Consultative Committee which had Mr Peter Mirtschin as its Chairperson. The Government of the day was considering de-gazetting the Park as its conservation value was being steadily eroded by the continued abuse of the area particularly, but not exclusively, around Wild Dog Hill.
The Friends volunteer their time and skills to help the National Parks and Wildlife Service manage the Park effectively. The group is involved in research, revegetation, the repair of vandalism, maintenance, pest plant and animal control, interpretation and supervision of the Park. The Friends raise their own funds for these activities.
It is of note that through the work of the Friends group, vandalism to the area is now minor. The group has a policy of rapid repair of any vandalism so that vandals are deprived of the satisfaction of public exhibition of the damage caused.
